wellhofer



(No Model.) a Sheets-Sheet 1.

0. WELLHUFER.

SPITTOON.

No. 561347. Patented Julie 2,1896,

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

w G. WELLHOFER.

SPITTOON No. 561,247. Patented June 2, 1896.

, (No Model.) a Sheets-Sheet 3.

C. WELLHOFER.

SPITTOON N0. 561,247. Patented June 2, 1896.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL IVELLHGFER, OF HEIDINGSFELD, GERMANY.

SPlTTOON,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 561 ,247, dated June 2,1896.

Application filed February 18, 1895. Renewed February 18, 1896, SerialNo. 579,802. (No model.) Patented in England June 9, 1894,110. 15,608;in SwitzerlandAugust 16, 1894, No. 9,058, and in Germany May 30,1895,N0.81,465-

.To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, CARL WELLHoFER, a citizen of the Kingdom of Bavaria,and a resident of Heidingsfeld, Bavaria, Germany, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Spittoons, of which the following is aspecification.

Patents have been granted in England, No. 15,608, dated June 9, 1894; inGermany, No. 81,465, dated May 30, 1895, and in Switzerland, No. 9,058,dated August 16, 1894.

My invention includes a receptacle for receiving the expectorations, atilting funnel having an outlet leading to the same and an independentinlet leading to the funnel protected by a sieve, and other features ofnovelty hereinafterparticularly pointed out and claimed. g

Figures 1, 3, and at show in sectional views the sputum recipients indifferent positions and placed in various manners. Fig. 2 is a sideview, partly in section. Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views of a portablespittoon. Fig. 7 is a sectional View of the device in a canehead. Figs.8 and 9 show a modification combined with an independent reservoir.Figs. 10, 11, and 12 are views of a further modification. 7 q

In Figs. 1 and 2 thevessel is shown resting on the floor, upon atable,or the like. In Fig. 3 it is shown fixed to a wall. Fig. 4 represents ithanging from the ceiling, where it can be raised and lowered and thusput at the desired height by means of a pulley. It can be hung above asick-bed, and the patientwill be enabled to use it when desired.

The recipient a, constructed according to Figs. 1 to 4, is spherical,and is held on the upright G by means of the journals b, said uprightbeing provided with a suitable foot. The funnel-shaped opening cl isconnected with the recipient a, being in connection with the same bymeans of the opening 6 on top of the tube f below. The opening e isentirely free, while the extremity of the tube f is provided with anexchangeable filter, sieve, or the like g, and at the base of the funnelis provided with a valve h.

Diametrically opposite the filter-or sieve 9 an opening *5 is made inthe recipient, which can be hermetically closed by a screw-p111 g orsome other similar device, which serves for emptying or for cleansingthe recipient or for exchanging the filter or for filling said 1'ecipient with disinfecting liquid.

The position indicated by full lines in Fig. 1 is the position of theapparatus when at rest or not used. As will be seen, the machine issuspended so that its point of gravity is located below thesuspension-axle. Therefore after each time the same has been turned itcomes back to its original position.

The recipient a is almost half-filled with water or with some othercorresponding disinfecting liquid.

If it is desired to use the vessel in order to expectorate into it, therecipient, Fig. 1, is turned from the position indicated by the fulllines to that shown by dotted lines, while, if desired, said turningmovement can be limited by the upright or support by means of a stopfixed to the vessel. In order to effectthis turning motion, the usercatches hold of the tube f or of a handle fixed to the recipient a or tothe funnel d. As a consequence of that turning the liquid will run intothe funnel through the valve h. (Fig. 3 shows the position of theapparatus when used by the full lines.) The sputa gathered in therecipient are held back by the filter or sieve 9, so that only water ordisinfecting liquid can run into the funnel through the pipe f. Theexpectorating is done into the liquid which is in the funnel and thenthe recipient is released, so that the same assumes again its originalposition. The liquid in the funnel is prevented from running back intothe pipe f by the valve h, and, together with the sputum, it will flewback into the recipient through the opening 6. The inward-bent edge ofthe funnel prevents the liquid from flowing out and running off alongthe outside of the vessel.

The foot of the upright O is provided with a cross-bar 76 or with a hookwhich enables it to be fixed to the wall, Fig. 3, or to hang from theceiling. (See Fig. 4.)

The recipient itself will always swing into its position of rest, (shownby dotted lines in Fig. 3 and by full lines in Fig. 4,) so that whenmoved it works as described hereinabove.

A further construction of the invention is shown in Figs. 5 and G, inwhich the recipient is portable. The recipient a, which is pivotallyconnected with thehandle Z, is prov ided with the part on, put into thesame, which ends outside in the shape of a funnel. Said part m ispreferably fixed in the recipient a by means of a worm or by means of arubber plug, which enables it to close tightly the opening of therecipient a by means of a piece m. The inserted piece consists of a tubeperforated or provided with a filter at its inside lower side that endsas a funnel for letting pass the disinfectingfluid, and the other sideof which is provided with a valve a. The latter is open when the vesselis carried in the position shown in Fig. 5. If for the purpose ofexpectorating the recipient a is turned around the pivotl) of the handleinto the position shown in Fig. (3, the valve will be closed first, andthen the disinfecting fluid will pass through the perforations orthrough the filter into the tube at and from there into the funnel.After having expeetorated in the funnel the handle is released and therecipient is allowed to swing back into the position of Fig. 5, thevalve n will be open again, and the fluid contained in the funnel cl andin the inserted tube on will run into the recipient; also, in this caseonly fluid and no sputum will come into the funnel.

The construction of the inserted piece on can vary at will-as, forinstance, in Fig. 7, where the entire apparatus is introduced in thehead of a cane. The outlet-opening 0 is on top in this case, oppositethe perforations of the inserted tube. Thereby the valve has becomeunnecessary. \Vhen the spitting apparatus is brought in the position ofuse, the disinfecting fluid will, as before, run through theperforations of the tube on into the funnel, and the contents of thefunnel will run back into the recipient a through the opening 0 when thecane is used again as a cane. The head of the cane is leaded behind thefunnel, so that when the cane is dropped it will always assume suchaposition that the funnel will be on top.

Further modifications are shown in Figs. 8 and 9. In this case theinlet-tube f of the funnel 61 does not run into the recipient a, butinto a recipient 1), arranged above the latter. That recipient p isfilled with water or some disinfecting fluid. Said recipient is providedwith an outlet-socket, with a cock g, from which an elastic or otherflexible tube runs to the inlet-pipe f of the funnel. The latter isprovided with an automatically-working cock, valve, or other similardevice 3, which opens automatically when the recipient a is put in theposition of use and closes automatically when the same swings back intothe position of rest. This automatic-closing valve can be of any kind.In the drawings it is represented as a cock-plug in rigid connectionwith the drop-ball 0', which is in a vertical position, nomatter whatposition the funnel may be in.

If the funnel is changed from the position indicated by dotted lines(position of rest) into the position indicated by the full lines, thecock 3 opens automatically and allows water to run into the funnel.After the expecteration the sputum will be washed away by theconstantly-running fluid, and it will run into the recipient a throughthe openings 0. Thereafter the recipient returns to the resting positionand the cock 3 will be closed again. The arrangement can also be made sothat the position indicated in Fig. 3 (full lines) is the position ofrest. After the expectoration the recipient is raised again until it isin. the position indicated bydotted lines and the con tents of thefunnel run into the recipient (t. Then the recipient is allowed toreturn to its original position.

The recipient can be made of metal, glass, earthenware, or any suitablematerial. I would add that the spit-boxes illustrated by Figs. 1 to 4and 8 and 9 can be operated not only by hand, but also by some suitablepedal. arrangement.

In the spit-boxes shown in Figs. 1 to 7 the contents of the funnelreturn into the same vessel that contains the water or disinfectingfluid that has been conveyed into the funnel. In the construction shownin Figs. 8 and 9 this is not the case; but such an apparatus is rathercomplicated and becomes too expensive.

The inconveniences of both constructions have been remedied by thefollowing construction and by a most simple device. The contents of thefunnel after expectorating are conveyed into avessel that is separatedfrom the vessel containing the water or disinfecting liquid. Theoperation remains essentially the same as in Figs. 1 to 9.

On an upright (Fig. 10, eross-section, Fig. 11., front view) which issuitably attached to the wall or is provided with a suitable foot thetwo vessels C and B are placed. The sieve a, either open on top orperforated and connected with the spit-funnel cl, located outside thevessel B, by means of a pipe f, plunges in the upper of these vessels.Pipe f is pivotally arranged on the edge of the vessel. 13, and itsnormal position is that which is indicated by dotted lines, wherein thesieve or pan a rests 011 the bottom of the vessel B and the spit-funneld is in its highest position. The latter is open below, and when thesieve a is lifted out of the vessel 15 that is, when the pipe 1 isturned in the direction of the arrowthe funnel rests upon the cone D, sothat its (the f unnels) lower part is then closed. Gone I) is ofsuitable material, built into the funnel E, with which it is connectedby the braces F. The prolongation of the funnel E is a tube G, whichissues into the lower vessel (J. The

funnel E and the pipe R bear, preferably, in the ring II of the vesselB.

When the spit-box must be used, I take hold of the handle J of thespit-funnel (Z and turnthe same, as well as the pipe f and the sieve a,from the position shown by dotted lines into the position shown by fulllines. (Direction of the arrow.) Thereby the lower orifice of the funnel01 will be closed by the cone D. Immediately thereafter the water orother disinfecting liquid that has been drawn from the vessel B by thesieve will flow through the pipe finto the spit-funnel. There can now beexpectoration, and after this the-spitfunnel is released. The heavylever-arm of the pipe f carries the same again to the position indicatedby dotted lines and its contents will flow over the cone D into thefunnel and into the tube G. From the latter they pass into the vessel 0,which is emptied from time to time.

The vessel B, in which the sieve or pan a is plunged, is closed by acover, leaving sufiicient space for the upward motion of the pan a. Itcan have various forms. In the drawings I show a cover with a valve K,which is opened by the sieve or pan a when lifted and closes againeither by its own weight or by means of a spring.

The bearing of the pipe f is made so that it can be removed from thevessel 13, and for this purpose the bearing is provided with clamps, asseen in Figs. 10 and 12, which are fixed upon the edge of the vessel B.

Both vessels B and O can eventually be only formed of one vessel anddivided by a partition.

I claim 1. A spittoon comprising a receptacle for receiving theexpectorations, the tilting funnel having an outlet leading to the saidreceptacle and an independent inlet leading to the funnel protected by asieve, substantially as described.

2. A spittoon having a receptacle to receive the expectorations, theindependent receptacle for the disinfectant or washing fluid, and thefunnel connected therewith and arranged to receive a supply ofdisinfectant when tilted, substantially as described.

3. A spittoon having a receptacle, the tilting funnel, the intermediatetube or conduit and means for closing the passage through the saidfunnel when the same is in one position, substantially as described.

4. A spittoon having a receptacle to receive the expectorations, thetilting funnel, the seat D to close the opening therein when the fun nelis tilted, the passage from said seat to the receptacle, and thefluid-receptacle for the funnel, substantially as described.

5. A spittoon comprising the receptacle for holding the expectorant, thetilting funnel, the fluid-receptacle B, the sieve a and the connectionfrom the same to the tilting funnel, substantially as described.

. 6. A spittoon comprising a receptacle for the expectorated matter, afunnel arranged to discharge into said receptacle, a tube through whichthe funnel is supplied with fluid, and a sieve controlling the inlet tothe said tube or conduit, substantially as described.

7. In a spittoon, the combination of the receptacle for receiving theexpectorations, the funnel, the inlet-conduit leading to the funnel atone point to supply washing fluid thereto and the discharge from thefunnel independent of the inlet-conduit for discharging the disinfectantand expectorations into the receptacle, substantially as described.

In testimonythat I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

- CARL WELLHOFER. WVitnesses EMIL STEIN, OSCAR 13001:.

